Great Barrier Reef Education Experience
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system with some of the richest biodiversity on the planet. It is recognised as one of the world’s most iconic tourism experiences and continues to be Australia’s greatest natural attraction.
The Great Barrier Reef offers a unique place-based educational opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an authentic live classroom and to learn more about the rich biodiversity of the reef.
The Queensland Government is investing $3.5 million over three years in the Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program to support Queensland schools to undertake place-based educational experiences in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area which align with Australian and Queensland curriculum.
Queensland schools can apply subsidies for eligible school excursions being undertaken from Term Three, 2021. The Program will run over a three-year period or until funding has been fully exhausted. All travel needs to be completed by 5pm AEST 8 July 2024 or earlier if all available funding has been allocated.
The Program is designed to:
- enable more students to experience the Great Barrier Reef through participation in school excursions across the region;
- facilitate more place-based learning activities in the Great Barrier Reef that are tailored to support student learning in line with the Australian and Queensland curriculum;
- support opportunities for students to participate in reef restoration and conservation activities;
- develop greater connections to reef systems and allow for more awareness and understanding of natural habitats and pressures facing the Great Barrier Reef;
- provide opportunities for tourism operators in the Great Barrier Reef to refresh and develop educational products and experiences;
- support the Great Barrier Reef tourism operators impacted by recent natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic;
- stimulate new, sustainable market opportunities and subsequent tourism visitation into the Great Barrier Reef region, supporting economic growth, encouraging repeat visitation.
